Origin: Greek prefix bio-
Definition, synonyms and related words
A field of science in which biology, computer science, and information technology merge into a single discipline to analyse biological information using computers and statistical techniques.
"Bioinformatics merges biology, computer science, and information technology to analyze vast amounts of genetic data using advanced computational tools."
In plain English: Bioinformatics is using computers to organize and study information about living things, especially DNA.
"Bioinformatics helps scientists analyze genetic data to understand how diseases develop in humans and animals."
Usage: This term refers specifically to the interdisciplinary application of computational tools rather than general data analysis. Avoid using it as a verb or attributive adjective unless clearly modifying "tools" or "methods."
The word bioinformatics combines the prefix bio-, meaning life, with informatics to describe the application of computer science and statistics to biological data. It emerged as a distinct field when scientists began using computational methods to analyze complex genetic information.